Surviving Valentine (17 page)

              Dinner was fantastic! It was a comedy lounge. So we got entertainment and dinner! We laughed so hard I thought I was going to piss my dress. That would have been embarrassing. Darien needed to stop at the gas station to fill up the Jeep before we headed home. Sadly I hadn’t gotten a new car yet, so I had to be chauffeured if I need to go somewhere.   I told Ross and Candace they could go on ahead of us to my house. We were going to share a bottle of wine I had stashed away somewhere. Darien made an announcement he had some big news to tell us, but he was going to wait until we were at the house. Excitement was building inside of me. I had no clue what Darien was going to say. I was hoping he was going to tell me he was staying to be an instructor, and not going back into the Seals.  But that was selfish of me. Of course I would be with him no matter what he chose, but I did like having him around.  “What are you thinking?” he asked as he got back in the Jeep.  “I was just thinking about how exciting I am about hearing your big news.” He grinned and pretended to zip his lips and throw away the key. Really? I just shook my head at his childish act.  

         We pulled into the driveway, I saw lights on at the house, I was so hoping Candace and Ross weren’t christening my couch. Yuck. “Hey, I gotta go run over to my house and get something, I’ll meet you over in like 5 minutes.” I nodded. Wondering what he was up to. AHH I was so full of suspense I thought I was going to burst!  “OK, see you in a few. “ I leaned over and gave him a kiss. It was a little more intense then I what I was going for but what the heck, we hadn’t had sex since the accident because my ribs were still tender, but they were better now. Hopefully tonight was the night! Otherwise I might turn into one of those alley cats who walk around with their tails up and meowing every time he comes near me. That would be sad. He pulled back. “See you in a few” he winked and strolled over to my side to open the door and help me out.

I strolled up the stairs and let myself in my house. “Candace, I’m here.” I called out. It was very quiet in the house. They must be lip locked somewhere.  I put my purse on the counter and walked towards the bathroom. Something caught my eye to the right. There was a spilled glass of wine on my tan carpet. Assholes. “Candace, you bitch you spilled wine on my carpet!” I walked over to the glass and saw Candace and Ross lying on the ground. Motionless. OH MY GOD.  I fell to the ground and crawled towards them. I shook Candace trying to wake her up.    A chill went down my spine. I felt for a pulse, THANK CHRIST!  She had one. I saw Roxy lying on the other side of Ross. She had burn marks on her side but I could tell she was breathing. What the hell was happening?

“Hello Scarlet” I froze. My mind, everything just stopped. I think even time stopped. No? It was impossible! I slowly turn towards that horrible voice. “It’s impossible.” I whispered. Frank stepped out of the shadows of the hall. He was standing there looking down at me. His eye twitched, his lips grew into the most evil grin I had ever seen. Oh god. “Actually Scarlet it is quite possible. They let me go for good behavior, since I am a born again Christian and all.” He did bunny ears with his fingers on the born again Christian part.  I was completely frozen to the floor. My muscles were locked with fear. Would he kill me this time? “What do you want?” He slowly walked towards me, cold shivers ran through me.  His smile was sinister. He had a plan, and it definitely wouldn’t be good for me. He crouched in front of me and tried to touch my face. I smacked his hand away. His eyes turned to a dangerous hunger. I didn’t like that face. He wanted me, and he would try to take me whether I wanted it or not.

The alarms in my head were screaming DANGER, DANGER! He cocked his hand back to hit me in the face; as soon as he let it fly I blocked it with my left arm and kicked my feet out to take him off balance. I was stronger than I was before. I knew more. Tears started escaping to my cheek as I remembered everything he has ever done to me, and to add to all of that he pushed us off that damn mountain. He grunted and came back at me. He took a swing at me and missed, then came back with a jab to my side, which he hit, and it hurt. I head butted him. He stumbled back a few feet. He was turning more dangerous by the minute. He ran at me, I kicked him but it did nothing, He smashed into me knocking me down. I let out a scream. He immediately started punching me. He got a few good ones on my face I knew wouldn’t be pretty. I felt my lips split open. I needed to get out of this quick. I took my knee and rolled it to the side which meant he either went with my knee or I break his ankle. He went, he tried to punch again but I blocked it with my cast. The vibrations hurt from it but fuck it I would break my arm again if it helped. With that idea I smashed my cast into him. He fell back against my end table and smashed the lamp that was sitting there. He yelled out from the pain. I scrambled away from him, desperately trying to get away. He rose up and came after me. He stood about 6 feet away from me when he pulled out a gun from the back of his pants. Oh shit. I wouldn’t be able to dodge a bullet. I thought of Darien. I hope he was safe from this. Frank started yelling “YOU WHORE, I WAITED FOR YOU. YOU ARE MINE! YOU WILL BE MINE OR NO ONE ELSE’S! DO YOU WANT ME TO KILL YOUR BOY TOY? I WILL SLIT HIS THROAT AND LET YOU WATCH HIM DIE BEFORE I KILL YOU.” Then Darien kicked down the door. A sense of dread and hope filled me. I didn’t want him in this, he could get hurt, but he might be able to save both of our asses.

Chapter 20

Darien

MINUTES EARLIER

        Got it! I looked down an Aunt Tara’s wedding ring. She left it in the nightstand with a note addressed to me.   I found it about 2 weeks ago, I couldn’t think of a better way to end my leave. I looked at the note one more time before l should go.

Darien,

I wanted you to have this. You are the most amazing man I have ever known. You deserve every happiness in the world. I hope you find a girl that is just as amazing as you. Your grandfather gave this to me after only knowing me for a week. It was his mother’s. He said it was good luck because they were together for 65 years before they passed. He swore the moment he met me, he knew I was the one. I didn’t think it was possible, but he showed me it was. One quote I will always remember from a movie Scarlet and I watch which by the way I hope you meet her soon. “A life without love is no life at all.” You need love Darien. Life as a soldier is an honorable life. But love will give you a life beyond thought.

I love you,

Aunt Tara (the biggest bad ass aunt ever!)

I needed a life with love, with Scarlet. I put the note away and the ring in my pocket. I strolled; well more like ran my way downstairs. I left the house and started towards Scarlet’s. I was so excited to tell them that I had accepted the position of training survival, and combat for new seal teams. I wanted them to learn what saved my life and Scarlet’s on the mountain. Plus I would get to be with her. What could be better? I was so distracted by the thought of Scarlet, in a white dress sauntering down an isle towards me, then her round belly with our kid, I didn’t notice the silhouette of a person sitting on her stairs.

“Such a big smile Valentine, are you that happy to see me?” I stopped. Fox. Son of a bitch. “What the fuck are you doing here?”I spat out. Just the sight of him made my vision red, he just shrugged. “Working” My pissed off level was starting to boil. “You better not have harmed Scarlet, or I swear Fox I will kill you.”  He tisked, and waggled his finger at me. “You see Valentine, I am not the one after her, I’m just the hired hand.”  I gave him the glare of death. “What the hell are you playing at Fox?” He smiled and showed all of his teeth, and winked.  “I think you know. Who is the one person who would want to see our sexy Scarlet.”  Frank. Shit I ruled him out because he was in jail, damnit he must have gotten out without her knowing. I should have check up on him. “You were always a smart man Valentine; I knew you would figure it out. He found out about my services if you will when he was in prison. He sought me out and hired me.  I was the distraction. Keep an eye out on Scarlet, figure out her life, freak her out with the break in. You know make her lose her sense of security. Gotta say though, I didn’t mind keeping an eye on her. She is one fine piece of ass, especially in whatever the hell you call those scraps of clothing she wears on the beach. You know the ones she does yoga in.” I knew it was him that broke into her house; something inside me just fucking knew it! “You pushed us off that fucking mountain!” I spat. He just laughed. “Nah, I didn’t get to have the honor of doing that. That was all the crazy man himself.”

That pissed off level I mentioned earlier, yeah that fucker had been blown to bits. I was going to lay this fucker out and go save my girl. He was baiting me, I knew it. He wanted me to lose control. Most men made mistakes when they got angry. Me? It just made me more determined. He continued on. “I wasn’t expecting you to enter in the picture, funny how that happens.” I heard a scream come from the house. My insides turned cold, I stopped breathing. He made a low whistle. “I guess the party has already gotten started. Guess I should get on with mine too.” He wasn’t going to stop me from getting to her. “I’m giving you one last chance Fox; get the hell out of my way.” He stood “Not going to happen asshole.” He spit in my direction.

He came at me, swinging first. I moved to the right dodging his fist. I punched his side as his arm passed me. A grunt came from his mouth. His elbow smacked me right in the cheek as he brought his arm back to neutral position. We switched taking blows to the face until he tackled me to the ground. The ground was my area; he was going to be finished. He had me in a full mount and was trying to get a punch onto my face, hoping to knock me out. He cocked his right hand back to throw the killer punch. At the same time he started to swing I lifted my hips in the direction he was going which threw him over my head. I scrambled around and caught him in an arm bar as he went to strike me. I didn’t even hesitate snapping his arm. He yelled out as I heard the distinct crack of his arm. His eyes filled with pure hate as he dislocated his shoulder and brought his body over to kick me off of him. He was fucking crazy, but I wasn’t done. He was getting frantic. He came at me full speed and swung with his good arm. I caught him by the arm and interlaced my arms under his and around his head. I heard commotion in the house, and didn’t wait a second before I twisted my hands and CRACK! Fox went limp in my arms.

I lowered his body down, and took off for the house. I heard a man yelling. “YOU WHORE, I WAITED FOR YOU, YOU ARE MINE! YOU WILL BE MINE OR NO ONE ELSE’S! DO YOU WANT ME TO KILL YOUR BOY TOY? I WILL SLIT HIS THROAT AND LET YOU WATCH HIM DIE BEFORE I KILL YOU.” I kicked down the door and saw the scene.

A tall,  tanned man with long black hair that was tied back behind his head, was hold a gun at a scared to death Scarlet. I looked her over. She had mascara tear stains down her face. Her lips were split, and her cheek was a little red. I’LL FUCKING KILL HIM! There was such fear in her eyes. “You must be the man she is whoring around with?” He cursed out. I didn’t take too well with him calling her a whore. “She just threw that pussy at anyone huh?” He looked at her again, as he pointed the gun at me. “Don’t worry whore, I will fuck away the memory of all these men who you let fuck you.” I ran and tackled the man. I heard a shot go off but had no clue where it went. He was strong. He must have worked out a lot while in jail but he was no match for me. I swung at him until I felt he stopped resisting. Blood spattered my hands and clothing. “Darien stop, he is out! Darien!” I heard Scarlet scream. It took everything in me to just get off him and go to her.

I fell to the ground in front of her and scooped her into my arms. She sobbed away into my neck. Her hands grasping onto my torn shirt from my fight with Fox. I pulled back to get a look at her. “Are you ok?” I asked. Her face was starting to swell more, and turn a shade of light purple. I noticed her cast looked smashed. She noticed me seeing it. “I’m ok, he got me a few times, but I got him too, I think I broke my arm again but it was worth all of the pain to hit that jackass.” I let out a startled laugh. She fought him, I knew she would. “How is your arm?” My eyebrows came together in confusion. “My arm?” I looked at both my arms and HOLY SHIT! My left arm was bleeding. That fucker shot me! It grazed the side of my deltoid. I hadn’t even felt it. Must be all the adrenaline. All though now I see it I was starting to feel it. Damnit. She started to smile when she figured I didn’t even know I had been shot.

I loved her so much. I couldn’t wait any longer to tell her everything. “Scarlet will you marry me?  You are everything to me. I will love you all of my life. I know we haven’t known each other too long but I’ve known you were my forever all along.” I just blurted out. She started crying.  Good? Bad? I couldn’t tell.  She tackled me like a lioness to her prey. She started raining kisses over me. “Yes! I love you so much Darien.”  I hugged her tightly against me,  never going to let her go.  I fished the ring out of my pocket, grabbed her left hand, and slide it on her finger. She saw it and more tears busted from her eyes. “Aunt Tara’s ring. I always thought it was so beautiful. I love you Darien.” We were so happy.

              “Too bad you’ll never get to see that day.”A bitter voice spat out. I turned towards Frank. He was barely able to hold the gun but he somehow found the strength. Blood was running from his head, and lips. I saw the intent in his face just as he pulled the trigger.  I pushed Scarlet to the ground and covered her body with my own. I felt a sharp pain in my chest. I quickly looked at Frank; he was laying on the ground with blood flowing out of his mouth. He was dead. Scarlet was safe. “Oh no Darien! No, no, no, no, Darien!” Scarlet’s was crying out. I looked down and saw where the pain in my chest was coming from. I got shot. I fell back; she scrambled over and put pressure on the wound, with tears streaming down her face. “Darien, it’s going to be ok.” She kept saying. “Oh my god Scar!” Candace? I didn’t know what happened to them, they must just be coming to or something. “Call 911 now!” Scarlet yelled. My vision was starting to get a little blurry. “I love you” I got out. “I love you Darien. You are not going to die on me now. We still have to get married. I’m going to be Mrs. Valentine. Darien. I won’t survive this, you have to fight baby, fight!” She spoke through her sobs. She was being so strong. I loved hearing her say Mrs. Valentine.  “Scarlet, move over! I’ll handle this.” Ross, my man. My eyes closed and I drifted off.